In our first "How To..." guide of 2025, Dr Laurie is asking how can we stop striving for perfection and make peace with the idea that it's ok to lead messy and "half-assed" lives. 

Oliver Burkeman (author of Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time For What Counts) explains how we can embrace imperfection and find liberation and joy in just doing our best. 

In our first "How To..." guide of 2025, Dr Laurie is asking how can we stop striving for perfection and make peace with the idea that it's ok to lead messy and "half-assed" lives.&nbsp;
Oliver Burkeman (author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oliverburkeman.com/">Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time For What Counts</a>) explains how we can embrace imperfection and find liberation and joy in just doing our best.&nbsp;

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

How To Embrace Imperfection

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/823779a5-ded4-465d-8501-b24a0113262d/transcript

Work doesn’t end when the workday does. Even after we close our laptops, our minds keep replaying awkward meetings, looming deadlines, and unfinished to-do lists. Over time, that “always on” mentality can quietly hijack our relationships, our health, and our happiness.

Dr. Laurie sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch (Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life) to explore the science of work stress — and why so many of us get stuck in fight-or-flight mode long after we’ve left the office. 

Plus, Ben Walter, host of “The Unshakeables” and CEO of Chase for Business, shares what he’s learned from working with small business owners who don’t have the option to simply “clock out.”

If you’ve ever felt like work is bleeding into everything, this episode offers science-based tools to help you take your life back.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life

"Burnout: A Review of Theory and Measurement"

"The Relationship Between Workplace Stressors and Mortality and Health Costs in the United States"

"How Small Businesses Drive the American Economy"

"Small Business Facts"

“The Unshakeables”

"Yerkes-Dodson Law Of Arousal And Performance"

“The Use of Imagery to Manipulate Challenge and Threat Appraisal States in Athletes”

“Rebuilding After a Blaze: Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea”

Work doesn&rsquo;t end when the workday does. Even after we close our laptops, our minds keep replaying awkward meetings, looming deadlines, and unfinished to-do lists. Over time, that &ldquo;always on&rdquo; mentality can quietly hijack our relationships, our health, and our happiness.
Dr. Laurie sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch (<a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/mind-over-grind/id6747038189">Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life</a>) to explore the science of work stress &mdash; and why so many of us get stuck in fight-or-flight mode long after we&rsquo;ve left the office.&nbsp;
Plus, Ben Walter, host of &ldquo;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unshakeables/id1725983618">The Unshakeables</a>&rdquo; and CEO of&nbsp;Chase&nbsp;for&nbsp;Business, shares what he&rsquo;s learned from working with small&nbsp;business&nbsp;owners who don&rsquo;t have the option to simply &ldquo;clock out.&rdquo;
If you&rsquo;ve ever felt like work is bleeding into everything, this episode offers science-based tools to help you take your life back.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
<a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/mind-over-grind/id6747038189">Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life</a>
"<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8834764/">Burnout: A Review of Theory and Measurement</a>"
"<a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.2014.2115">The Relationship Between Workplace Stressors and Mortality and Health Costs in the United States</a>"
"<a href="https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/03/25/how-small-businesses-drive-the-american-economy/">How Small Businesses Drive the American Economy</a>"
"<a href="https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Job_Creation_fact_sheet_FINAL_0.pdf">Small Business Facts</a>"
&ldquo;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unshakeables/id1725983618">The Unshakeables</a>&rdquo;
"<a href="https://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-the-yerkes-dodson-law.html">Yerkes-Dodson Law Of Arousal And Performance</a>"
&ldquo;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20587822/">The Use of Imagery to Manipulate Challenge and Threat Appraisal States in Athletes</a>&rdquo;
&ldquo;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/rebuilding-after-a-blaze-luna-gourmet-coffee-tea/id1725983618?i=1000642623023">Rebuilding After a Blaze: Luna Gourmet Coffee &amp; Tea</a>&rdquo;

How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/935138d0-14a2-43b6-b33a-b40c013467a6/transcript

In Part 2 of Dr. Laurie’s conversation with researchers Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, we learn how couples can raise complaints without damaging their relationship — and how to respond constructively when a partner voices a concern. Their research shows that fighting doesn’t have to pull couples apart. When handled well, conflict can actually make relationships stronger.

Further reading: Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict into Connectionby Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman.

In Part 2 of Dr. Laurie&rsquo;s conversation with researchers Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, we learn how couples can raise complaints without damaging their relationship &mdash; and how to respond constructively when a partner voices a concern. Their research shows that fighting doesn&rsquo;t have to pull couples apart. When handled well, conflict can actually make relationships stronger.
Further reading: <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/fight-right/id6448687736">Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict into Connection</a> by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman.

Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 2)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/20f466a4-df33-422f-b3ee-b40501584822/transcript

In this classic episode, Dr. Laurie speaks with two of the world’s most influential relationship scientists, Drs. John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman.

In their renowned “Love Lab,” the married researchers have studied thousands of couples, identifying the subtle interaction patterns that predict whether partners will drift apart or stay happily together for decades.

They join Dr. Laurieto share what we can learn from these “Masters of Relationships” — and how to build partnerships resilient enough to withstand life’s inevitable stresses and strains.

Further reading: Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict into Connectionby Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman.

In this classic episode, Dr. Laurie speaks with two of the world&rsquo;s most influential relationship scientists, Drs. John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman.
In their renowned <a href="https://www.gottman.com/professionals/love-lab/">&ldquo;Love Lab,&rdquo;</a> the married researchers have studied thousands of couples, identifying the subtle interaction patterns that predict whether partners will drift apart or stay happily together for decades.
They join Dr. Laurie to share what we can learn from these &ldquo;Masters of Relationships&rdquo; &mdash; and how to build partnerships resilient enough to withstand life&rsquo;s inevitable stresses and strains.
Further reading: <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/fight-right/id6448687736">Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict into Connection</a> by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman.

Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 1)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/be91197b-653c-47e7-9195-b40100182f1f/transcript

How To Embrace Imperfection

In 1 playlist(s)

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips